Materials Development Engineer

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 26th January 2024 - 12:00pm

ABOUT US:

Modern Synthesis is crafting the next generation of biomaterials by connecting the dots between biology, material science and design. We’re on a mission to create sustainable materials which reduce the fashion industry’s dependence on petrochemicals - without sacrificing performance or creativity. Our first material, which is grown by bacteria, is fully biodegradable and astonishingly strong. You can read more about it on our website.

We believe that big magic happens when disparate disciplines, perspectives and ideas collide. As a team of biologists, chemists, designers, engineers, business experts, robots and microbes, we get to witness this magic on a daily basis. From our strong culture of debate (hot takes always welcome ️) to our bi-weekly deep dives, we intentionally embed collaboration and growth into everything we do.

We hire people, not roles, so we can be flexible on scope. We strongly encourage you to apply if you think you’re qualified for a portion of this role, and can demonstrate a proven ability to take on new skills and challenges.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are looking for an enthusiastic and hands-on Materials Development Engineer at Modern Synthesis to lead projects within the Engineering team, enabling us to develop our material as we scale and grow the business at an exciting new time. Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, you will play a key role in advancing our process technologies to industrialise our sustainable materials. The successful candidate will have experience driving projects and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leading projects end to end to develop and validate new materials and processes

• Developing the finishing processes for our materials, at small and large scale, including embossing and finish coatings

• Running process trials for scale up of our materials including working with key external partners regionally, nationally and internationally

• Developing and maintaining technical documentation, such as quality standards and standard operating procedures, for use internally and externally

• Presenting reports on project progress, including risk and resource management updates to a wide range of stakeholders

• Collaborating with the Science and Product teams to support new material developments and enable design for manufacturing

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 
  A minimum of 5 years of experience in a relevant manufacturing setting, preferably textiles-specific

• Relevant university degree in Textiles, Materials, Manufacturing or Engineering, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Experience of leading and managing full project cycles, from planning through to execution, including resource and budget management

• Proven experience in test & validation, such as material testing, process trials, data analysis, and design of experiments

• Excellent communication across multiple stakeholders, with proven experience of analysing data, reporting, & presenting results to a wide range of audiences

• Experience monitoring and communicating key performance indicators (KPIs)

• Has a passion for sustainability, bio-materials, fashion tech and/or the circular economy

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

The following skills and experience are not required for the role, but would be beneficial for a successful applicant:

• Experience with textile manufacturing processes including; R2R processes, coating, embossing, and selection of process equipment

• Proven experience with quality control processes and systems

• Production and manufacturing experience, including application of skills such as root cause analysis and conducting FMEAs

• Design and prototyping experience; CAD and technical drawing; design & build of prototype equipment; methods such as 3D printing.

• An interest or experience in biomaterials or sustainable textiles including Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

• Relevant Health and Safety qualifications

BENEFITS:

OUR HIRING PROCESS

Round 0. Apply online

Round 1. 30 minute exploratory phone interview where we’ll dive into your work history and motivations for applying to Modern Synthesis

Round 2. 1 hour skills interview where we’ll explore the skills and knowledge you’ll bring to this role. Successful candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation for the final Round 3.

Round 3. 1 hour panel interview and presentation with key members of the team

MODERN SYNTHESIS ED&I STATEMENT

Innovation rarely happens in a vacuum. The greatest ideas stem from a variety of perspectives, and an environment that supports equal representation and opportunities for all.

We are committed to driving global change. We only have one planet we all call home, and we need to work together to protect it. We believe in collaboration and a culture of debate. Disagreements are a chance to refocus our direction. We call this co-culture.

We welcome people of all races, genders, religions, ages, backgrounds, and abilities to our workplace and are committed to ensuring all our employees are safe, heard, represented and provided with every opportunity to thrive.

Equally we will act with integrity, purpose and respect in everything we do. We too are human. We will likely make mistakes and need to continue evolving our approach to ED&I as the world around us changes.